Abstract

In order to develop advanced materials as lightweight structures three-phased composites
were prepared using nano-fillers, nano-silica (nano-SiO2) and nano-clay and
micro glass-spheres to reinforce two kinds of glass-fibre reinforced thermoplastic
matrices, polypropylene (PP) and polyamide (PA6). These novel composites were
examined for: 1) morphological property using Transmission Electron Microscopy
(TEM) and X-ray diffraction; 2) the nature of surface fracture using Scanning Electron
Microscopy (SEM); and 3) the mechanical property using Instron 5500R universal
testing machine. The results showed that for glass-fibre-PA6 composites, the addition
of MMT and glass-spheres enhanced the stiffness, whereas the addition of
nano-SiO2 increased the maximum elongation. In contrast the addition of the secondary
filler had little effect on the mechanical properties of PP composites.